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A.R. Von

A.R. is not just a reviewer at Romance Book Junkies. She's my partner and a very close friend. She helps in all aspects of the blog on top of her Writing Career as A.R. Von. She can be contacted @ dragonlady039@gmail.com

Danielle

I am a romance book junkie myself and love to share great books I've read with other book junkies. I'm a 32 year old wife, mother and did I say book junkie? :) I read almost anything but mostly paranormal, historical and fantasy romance and preferably hot. Just a note: Blogging for me is a labor of love. I don't blog for money. I will always post an honest review of a book I've read.

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An amazing story! Definitely a keeper.
A must read. A good page turner.
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Giveaways

Monday, October 11, 2010

Olivia Cunning's Blog Tour & Giveaway

I am so excited that Olivia Cunning is here today on her Blog Tour. She's promoting her debut novel "Backstage Pass" which I had the pleasure of reading.

Welcome Olivia!

About Olivia:

(Copied from her profile on Goodreads)

Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction -- first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Growing up as the daughter of a career soldier, she's lived all over the country and overseas. She currently lives in Nebraska, but never stays in one place too long.

The first in a new erotic romance series, Backstage Pass is a sizzling mix of sex, love, and rock n' roll It's been months since Brian Sinclair, lead guitarist for the famous rock band, Sinners, composed anything. Unable to write the music that once flowed so naturally, Brian is lost without his musical mojo. But when sexy psychology professor Myrna Evans comes on tour to study groupie mentality, Brian may have found the spark he needs to reignite his musical genius. When lust turns to love, will Brian be able to convince Myrna that what they have is more than just a fling, and that now that he's found his heart's muse, he doesn't want to live without her?

In honor of today being Columbus Day Olivia has written a post about discoveries that your really going to enjoy.

Discoveries Worth Celebrating

by Olivia Cunning

Columbus Day means different things to different people. To bankers and federal employees it means a day off work. Lucky them! Some people don’t give it much thought at all. It’s just another Monday in a seemingly endless string of Mondays. Others find the holiday offensive and protest its commemoration. To me, Columbus Day is a celebration of discovery—not only discovery of the “new” world (which happens to be as old as the rest of the world), but of discovery in general.

A major theme in my debut novel, Backstage Pass, is discovery. You might be wondering if extra spicy, erotic romances about rock stars even have themes. When I write them, they do. Both main characters embark on a journey of discovery. Brian Sinclair, the hero of the novel and the sexy lead guitarist of the rock band Sinners, discovers love and inspiration in an unexpected place. Myrna Evans, the heroine and a human sexuality professor, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and reclaims both her sexual identity and her ability to love.

Brian has been looking for love in all the wrong places, looking for love in too many faces. He dates women who are ultimately wrong for him and who break his heart—mostly because they hop into bed with Sinners’ lead singer, Sed Lionheart. What Brian discovers in Backstage Pass is a woman unlike any he’s encountered in his past. Because she is so different and offers a challenge, it drives him to distraction. Myrna is highly educated, intelligent, and damned bossy. She knows what she wants out of life and it isn’t love and marriage or Brian’s affection. It also isn’t Sed Lionheart—bonus points for Myrna. Brian’s not sure he’ll ever win her heart, but he is smitten almost immediately. An incurable romantic, Brian knows Myrna is destined to be his. When he makes love to her for the first time (and thereafter), he hears music in his head. Exquisite and unique guitar compositions. Brian has discovered, not only the woman who can be faithful to him while still offering him the challenge he craves, but also his muse.

Myrna’s discovery is not so concrete. It’s more internal. Her journey in Backstage Pass is of self-discovery. At first, all she wants from Brian is a good time, which he delivers frequently with skill. There’s a reason Myrna avoids love. Her ex-husband was emotionally abusive. He made her question her self-worth, called her a whore, accused her of cheating, and did everything in his power to control her. She’s glad to finally be rid of him and refuses to give a man that kind of power over her again. Myrna fears she will lose herself if she slips even a little. She is terrified that she might end up doubting herself again. Brian is nothing like her ex-husband. He encourages Myrna to be who she is and to explore her sexuality. And boy do these two explore! They explore in a bed, in a bath, on a table, on a dresser, against a tour bus, in a bunk, in a tour bus, in a men’s room, on a motorcycle, in a car, on the beach, in a shower, backstage, chained to the ceiling, against a friend, with a friend, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some stops on their journey of sexual exploration. While her ex-husband belittled her for her sexual inhibition, Brian loves that quality in her. If there’s anything new she wants to try, he’s eager to assist and please. He’s equally uninhibited, so he’s the perfect companion for her journey. Emotionally and mentally, the voyage is very difficult for Myrna. Physically, she’s all systems go from the start. Brian is wonderful. He’s exactly what she needs, but until she discovers that for herself, he can’t break through her emotional barriers. Sometimes you can’t see what right in front of you because you’re hiding within yourself. By exploring her sexuality with Brian, Myrna rediscovers and embraces who she really is. Ultimately, this allows her to discover the magic of love. I’d say that’s a discovery worth celebrating.

Have you ever discovered something about yourself in an unexpected way?

Thank you Olivia for stopping by my blog today on your blog tour!

Now for the Giveaway:

1. This giveaway is only open to US residents due to shipping costs. Sorry :(

2. I'm going to make this giveaway really easy. The drawing will be held on October 18th using random.org.

3. Leave a comment answering Olivia's question.

4. +2 entries each for spreading the word about the giveaway. Leave the links in your comment.

5. (Optional) Leave you email address in your comment and I will also email you if you win or you can check back here on October 18th when I announce the winners

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comments:

Ok, this is a little bloddy and ugly.. here it comes: I though i was a blood-o-phobic or something, but once i was forced by a teacher to asist an authopsy and I found that in a non-psicotic-way blood and dead bodies are not that terrifing. (Told you it was nasty... Sorry!!!!)And im not psycotic!! im just a student trying to learn :)

Have you ever discovered something about yourself in an unexpected way?

Yes, I have. During several medical emergencies, I have remained calm and was able to instruct others (who were in shock) what needs to be done and who to contact. I was quite surprised by my reactions because I thought I would be one of those immobilized.

Good morning. I'm about to head off to work. I'm currently wishing I had a federal job and the day off.

Jolene- LOL! I hear ya!

Alejandra- As an Anatomy and Physiology professor (no lie, that's my day job), I don't know how many squeamish nursing students insist they can not dissect eyes. Almost all of them find it interesting once they get going. TMI? Sorry.

Tracey- Thankfully, I've never been in that kind of situation. I'd probably be the one flipping out. You can help calm me down.

Great article Olivia. I think you called it right. The sense of discovery comes across loud and clear in Backstage Pass. That's what makes the series so fascinating to me, each band member has journey to travel and it's a journey of fun as well as learning lessons.

Oh yeah, Backstage Pass is a fabulous voyage of discovery! And I've had a lifetime of discovering things about myself in surprising ways, and I hope I keep doing that for a long time! No need to enter me in the drawing--I've already devoured my copy of this sizzling, sexy book!

Hi Olivia & Danielle!I'm seriously loving this book and I haven't even read it yet:) Nice to see that it's part of a series. As for the question... I can't say that I have since nothing seems to be really jumping out at me at the moment. I'm sure there's gotta be something but I'll have to dig around my brain for a moment and get back to you:)

justpeachy36- I don't know how many times I've tried sushi and tried to like it. There are so many varieties, maybe I'll eventually find one I like. So far... no sale! I did unexpectedly like calamari though. Squid is tasty.

Hi, yadkny! You have just discovered my book unexpectedly on Danielle's blog. I think that counts. :-)

I love this book and need to add it to my collection (I borrowed it from a friend)!!!I never thought of myself as a strong person, but that all changed when I went through my husbands deployment to Iraq while I was expecting our first child. I grew and became a much stronger person because of that deployment!!jjfisher23@aol.com

Hey, Olivia! Loved your post! I discovered the word, "no!" When I discovered how useful it was I gave it a permanent adjective ... you got it, "Hell, no!" It took two hospital visits with five days each in intensive care before I discovered it so I'm not about to let it slip away. Thanks for reminding me that life is a journey ... I love that thing about sliding into heaven all used up and out of breath yelling, "What a ride!" When I'm eighty I'm still going to be putting out five books a year!!! And I've got a feeling you'll be right there with me!

Yes, I found out I had courage when I had to face a mentally ill, homeless fellow where I worked. I took charge of the situation, defused the tension and arranged for the police to come while I kept the man occupied. A strange thing to find out about myself in my 50's.

I look forward to discovering the first book of the Sinners Tour. Congratulations. Great blog, Dnielle, if I win(crossing my fingers) I'm including my email here. aries18 at charter dot net

Wow! This sounds like such a great book! I love books that focus on the growth and development of characters, over coming past issues, etc., which this sounds like it does.

Great question, by-the-way! Definitely! After a horrible break up with an ex-fiance, I decided to move away and basically break contact with every one but my family. I felt like I needed some time to 'find myself' again, figure out what I wanted for myself again. It was such an eye opener, and the best decision I've ever made for myself!

I keep seeing amazing reviews about Backstage Pass, would love to finally see for myself and read it! :-)

I wasn't very self-confident when I started working, I had this idea that I wasn't very good since I just started and lacked the experience, but due to not only the constant praise of my boss, but due to his sincere amazement how well I resolved a problem or introduced a new solution, I realized that if he the very talented and respected boss was amazed, then it must mean I show potential :-)